York Access Forum meetings
We hold meetings every 2 months, these are hybrid over Teams or online to help accommodate all forum members reasonable adjustments or access needs.
York Access Forum membership
The YAF membership includes a number of key organisations across the city and disabled residents who are Experts By Experience (EBE).
York Access Forum consultations
Since the launch of the YAF in 2023, Forum members have been consulted and provided feedback on a number of projects within the city.
York Access Forum and the social model of disability
At a meeting of Council in October 2022, the motion ‘Equality for Disabled People’ was presented and was unanimously carried and resolved.
York Access Forum Privacy Notice
Read the YAF privacy notice.
The Purpose of York Access Forum
The YAF enables disabled people, and others affected by access barriers in society, to work in partnership with CYC officers and Members to influence positive outcomes for disabled residents, visitors and those who work or study in the city of York.
The purpose of the Forum is to improve understanding of the barriers disabled people face and work in partnership with the Council to find ways to overcome them.
The aims of York Access Forum
We aim to:
- work with developers, architects and project managers to encourage greater accessibility at major new developments and in the public realm
- promote the adoption of inclusive design and management to create environments which are universally designed and usable by everyone
- promote and encourage greater access to information and in accessible formats and more positive attitudes towards disabled people when providing services
- ensure that local issues are addressed from an informed and representative consumer viewpoint by a group that is made up of people who are either disabled themselves or others who represent disabled people
The York Access Forum chair
Our chair is Diane Rowarth, who says:
I am a lifelong resident of York and retired as Chief Officer of York Blind and Partially Sighted Society (now MySight) in 2017.
"I have lived with sight loss for 40 years and worked in the sight loss sector for 27 years. On retiring I was presented with the RNIB Lifetime Achievement, Vision Pioneer Award. More recently, I was a key member of the successful Reverse the Ban Campaign which received a Scope Award this year (2025).
"I am a firm advocate of the social Model of Disability and believe that the voices of disabled people must be heard, and acted upon, if we are to create an accessible and welcoming City for All.
"York Access Forum can play a part in that and I encourage individuals and organisations working with and for disabled people to join."
York Access Forum Terms of Reference
The Terms of Reference provide more detailed information about the YAF including the aims and objectives, membership and details about the structure of meetings. Read the:
Further information on York Access Forum
If you want to find out more about the York Access Forum or would like an informal discussion, you contact the CYC Access Team. Alternatively, find different ways to contact us.